Eagle Lake road change deemed feasible

Cass Road Commission to hear comments on plan.

Cass Road Commission to hear comments on plan.

February 18, 2007|BARBARA DEMPSEY Tribune Correspondent

CASSOPOLIS -- The Cass County Road Commissioners have decided that a relocation of a part of Eagle Lake Road at the lake's southeast edge is feasible. It doesn't mean that a new road is going to be built, commissioners said at this past week's road commission meeting. It also doesn't mean that a portion of the current road and its public right of way along the water will be abandoned. An abandonment hearing for the current road is set for the evening of April 10. Because of the numbers of residents that are expected to attend, the meeting will be in the Edwardsburg Middle School Auditorium. The conclusion by road commissioners that an alignment or relocation of part of the current road is at least feasible allows Edwardsburg developer Paul DeLano to proceed to the Ontwa Township Planning Commission with construction plans for a housing project. Those plans would include additional details for the relocated road, a bridge across the east-west channel between Eagle and Christiana lakes, numbers and sizes of housing units, lot sizes, curbing, sidewalks, and any other documents necessary for preliminary site plan approval, said Joe Bellina, road commission engineer/manager. The construction plans at the township level, Bellina said, also would address other concerns that people have, such as the condition of the soil, land use and density. "Those have to pass the township planning commission before they come back to the road commission for final approval of the road construction plans," Bellina said. "Our position is that we sit in judgment whether alignment of the road would work and would it meet our requirements," said Commission Chairman Bob Powers. "After talking to our engineer (Bellina), we believe it is feasible," he said, speaking to the engineering and safety requirements. Were the road to be relocated, Bellina said, it would have to meet all specifications required of a county road. Those specifications are based on Michigan Department of Transportation standards. He confirmed that the road commission believes the curvature of the proposed road, as outlined in the plans already submitted, along with a 16-foot drop at the property's south boundary that was a concern of Eagle Lake area residents, meet engineering standards. If the road is built, it would be paid for by the developer with no cost to the county. Commissioners have reiterated several times that alignment and abandonment of a road are two completely separate processes and, by law, must be heard by the road commission upon request. Neither necessarily means final approval will be granted.